NEW YORK – T’ruah, a rabbinic human rights organization representing over 2,300 rabbis and cantors in North America, called for the Israeli government and other states and international bodies to act quickly and prioritize the immediate, safe release of Israeli hostages currently held by Hamas in Gaza.
In a statement, Rabbi Jill Jacobs, CEO of T’ruah, said:
“On Saturday, Hamas violently kidnapped between 150 and 200 Israeli citizens and took them to an unknown location or multiple locations in the Gaza Strip. Among them are elderly people, infants and children without their parents, people with severe injuries, and other innocent victims. This kidnapping is a war crime. We call on the Israeli government to put securing the safe release of these hostages above other objectives. We are grateful to President Biden and the State Department for their attention to the American citizens in captivity, and call for all other states and international bodies with any power in this regard to act quickly to bring those held hostage to safety.
“Redeeming captives (pidyon shevuiim) is one of the most important mitzvot (commandments) of Judaism. Moses Maimonides writes, “There is no greater mitzvah than the redemption of captives. For a captive is among those who are hungry, thirsty, and unclothed and he is in mortal peril.” One who abdicates this responsibility, he says, violates at least seven other commandments. (Mishneh Torah, Gifts to the Poor 8:10)
“Time is of the essence. Many of those held in captivity are reported to be injured, and many need critical medication. Furthermore, Hamas has already reported handing over some of the hostages to Islamic Jihad, and there is concern that others may be handed over to other militant organizations. Despite this imminent threat to Israeli citizens, the Israeli government continues to speak only of retribution and to make disturbing promises to ‘flatten Gaza.’ Blanketing Gaza in bombs will not make any Israelis safer, especially those currently being held captive. This approach will only result in more deaths of innocent people. Approximately 1,100 Palestinians in Gaza have already been killed, including hundreds of children.”
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About T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights
T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights mobilizes a network of more than 2,300 rabbis and cantors from all streams of Judaism that, together with the Jewish community, act on the Jewish imperative to respect and advance the human rights of all people. Grounded in Torah and our Jewish historical experience and guided by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we call upon Jews to assert Jewish values by raising our voices and taking concrete steps to protect and expand human rights in North America, Israel, and the occupied Palestinian territories.
